The Holidays.

Normally I would be dreading the Holidays. However this year I am very excited about them. I don't have any money, but You know...Its not important. Its never was. The Holidays are for families and for friends. Its about love. Period. I was dreading the holidays something fierce, but things are looking up tremendously. Theriom has really brightened things up for me and I couldn't love him more for it. He's really become more than what I thought he'd be and its amazing.

And I'll be taking photos again. I simply cannot wait.

I just wanted to say that I hope everyone has a very happy holiday and many more happy days to follow!

Portfolio update: all Neat and Clean!

Vlogging.

I've been notice that Vlogging has become EXTREMELY huge. Its always been huge, I just never notice how much. Kind of makes it interesting. I'd love to be able to do that, however I'm also pretty sure that you'd have to actually have something to say. Wouldn't you?

The link (click the title of entry) Is to SpeedyconKiwi's Youtube account. I don't know why, but I like her. I was watching her a quite a bit this evening.I don't know why, but I like her. Along with Brotherhood 2.0...Those guys are made of awesome. They've done a lot by accepting a simple dare on New Years Last year. I think they've seriously made and impact on the world by simply being themselves and knowing what they do. Nerdfighters are everywhere AND Nerdfighter's decrease world suck because they are made of awesome.



I suppose the same thing goes for Blogs too. I of course rarely have anything Important to say. Like now for example. However its nice to have a way to just say what it is that's going through my head. I've got notebooks and sketchbooks with nothing but incoherent babbling scribbled about the place, but I enjoy them.

Someday It might be interesting to put them all in one book. Maybe share it with some close people. What I mean by close, is people VERY dear and people I TRUST. A lot.

I also say the words "A Lot" a lot. =P

I'm missing Snotlicker by the way, I wonder where she has gone?

I should really check my Livejournal...though I'm sure they've deleted it by now. If not I'll have to fix a few things, so I can try and stay in contact with the Snot-Licker of my heart.

Mmm, And I DID photo something new. Hurray for me! As far as the project goes, its going slow. I have few ideas that actually came through the mental block. Perhaps I would be comfortable sharing them with Theriom. Perhaps he might be helpful in giving me Challenges. That's be cool. Of course I'd love Snot-licker to do the same as well. That would be fun!

Hmm...
And actually fold the ever growing pile of clothes and put them away. Ugh.

Later.

Art is a matter of Opinion.

I am getting very frustrated frustrated with the comments I've been seeing on DA. Constructive criticism is something entirely different than insulting someone’s abilities. The one that really pushed me to point of ranting in a blog was posted well over a year ago.

I just finished reading a comment on a rather nice photo. This photo is out of focus, but it adds to the feel of the over all piece. A "professional" photographer decided to give his two cents in a pompous way that made me loose faith in the artist community.. I cannot believe the ignorance some of these "artists" have. This Pro Photographer tells this person that "this is the 3rd photograph I have commented on that is out of focus..." then proceeded to tell this person they needed to LEARN how to focus. That apparently this person doesn't have the photographer’s skill to take a nice shot. The rest of this person's gallery is brilliant. This person has the Favorites, hits, and watchers to prove that they are on the right track and a great deal of other DA members enjoy this person's vision of art.

Here is the photo:

girl from ipanema by ~noahlee.

Art is a matter of opinion. I've been to fine art galleries with something a simple as a navy blue triangle, slightly tilted to the side, and on a white background hanging on the wall. Hell, anyone can do that, but we don't see their works on the wall do we? What is brilliant to one man is trash to another. That's really all there is to it.

I'd much rather me an Amateur photographer than a professional for the rest of my life if it means I'm going to respect other people's views on art. Hell, I'd rather be an Amateur photographer if it means I’ve still got the ability to learn and broaden my horizons with photography. I don't have someone telling me I'm not doing it right. I don't have someone telling me that I've got no skill, because it’s all a matter of opinion.

In Theory.

I'm in love with the Pax Cecilia recently. I might just get myself a free CD. This way I can drive my little sister crazy everywhere I go rather than just on Myspace.

Since I've been listening to them I've gotten a few ideas on some small projects I'd like to try. I thought about mentioning them here, but I don't get much feedback in any case and if I don't fall through with these projects (which sometimes happens) it would only look bad on my part. (lol)

So, this project or two may take some time and serious effort, which I think is something I need right now. There are several theories on how this could work. I could involve others with different mediums of art, but then I thought I'd give it a go first and possibly start the bandwagon.

Wish me luck. I might post my progress, but that might reveal to much.

freerice.com

Want to save the world? Sure, we all do. But we can't do it wearing our underwear on the outside or wearing our mother's drapes for a cape flying around with super-human strength. However you CAN feed hungry people around the world wearing your ridiculous outfit and learn something in the process!

FreeRice.com is a site where you complete multiple choice questions of the vocabulary variety. For each correct word the site donates 10 grains of rice. That's for ever 5 correct words they donate 50 grains of rice.

This is amazing fun actually, you wouldn't believe that learning could be so inspiring. Every three correct words the level of the vocabulary increases. Level 50 is the highest level to be reached and so far no one has reached that level. I personally have never made it past 48 and I cheat with my microsoft word dictionary. Tell me that's not challenging, eh?

Who knew saving the world could be so easy?

Sorry, super-human strength doesn't come included, but your brian might just get a little bigger.

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Thinking.

Its been a month since I last posted...and its been about that long since I've felt. Photos aren't having the same appeal as before and it is showing. Perhaps I've got the wrong company. I've got a friend that does nothing but bring me down. Not much of a friend at all really.

Theriom, to the left, doesn't make me feel like anything the other friend does...but I tend not to photograph at all with him. I just enjoy his company.

Snot-Licker hasn't been around and to be honest I haven't been around either. I'd love to just go out with her for a day. Recharge my batteries. I miss everyone I can be me with. I miss being able to convey what I have in the last posts again.

Now that it is November, I doubt I'll have much photos at all. There is some snow on the ground now, but not enough to have a beautiful landscape. Its just clumped on the ground in spots. So you can see green grass. So, its not been very nice out the past few weeks and I simply cannot stand taking photos indoors. I abhor the flash.

I've been thinking about adding some borders to some of my photos, as suggested by Theriom, but I'm not sure how to run the program yet and I'm not sure that's what I really want to do. The bottom border needs to be bigger....Maybe I'll work on that. I just don't know if I want to have to add that extra flash to get attention to my photos. That bothers me a bit.

I've been thinking about coming up with a list in different categories of items, animals, and concepts. Something fun to do when summer hits. SomethingI can do and whoever else wants to join in.

There was talk of a photo scavenger hunt before winter hit, but Somethings went wrong with that idea somewhere along the way. It was a great idea and give plenty of room for imagination and creativity, but that Other friend didn't like everyone else's input. She wanted to try and have us photograph things that one can't see with the eye and make them nothing but conceptual photos. Things like Dragons' teeth, elves, fearies...things along those lines. While the rest of us have listed a bunch of things like Skeleton keys, time, cactus, horse shoe, railroad spikes and the list goes on.

This friend claims that none of those items give room for imagination or creativity. We understand that she wants photos of higher quality than just a snap shot. Where's the fun in a simple click and go? We're willing to work with some of these things, but she isn't. She's not will to lean our way even just a little. In the end, I guess It'll be done with or without her and we'll have a good time anyway.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Or a website with some guidelines? Please feel free to e-mail me or comment below.

Thanks!

Here's a link that gives an outline.

Here.

Pennsylvania Pride.

The last 2 days have been rather fun. I wasn't expecting that at all. Those are good days. Though I have noticed something that I hadn't up until now. Though I miss my Papa every day that goes past, I haven't been thinking of him with every shot the last few days. Its someone else. It drives me crazy sometimes and I have to redirect myself back into focus of what is going on around me. I was almost distant with my group of friends because this man occupied my thoughts 45 out of 60 minutes of the hour all day long. There were so many things I wanted to show him and so many places I wanted to be WITH him.

Every scene we drove past I wanted to be drving with him and not a van full of silly girls. As much as I love my coven, I just couldn't stop myself from wishing I had different, more quiet and understanding comany than what I had. Even when he's not there these shots remind me of him.

As sunset remind me of Papa. I think he'd be proud, at least, I'd hope so. Every thing I see now is something I want to see in a photo. Every bit of life I want to keep a piece of because it is simply wonderful every last moment of it. Every single breath, every ray of sunshine is nothing but pure blessing. I've never been so proud to actualy live in Pennslyvania. We've got so much life and so much beauty.

No one ever stays away from PA. They may go somewhere else to build there life, but they always come home. There's no where else a Pennslyvanian wants to be than to be home. I would love to see other places, but I think ultimately, I'd love to come back and say that there is no other place I'd rather be.

Good night.

As Always, My DeviantART will be updated first.

=]

Blessed Be.

Friends give each other hope.

"Since I can't seem to figure out how to leave a comment on the link above, I'll leave one here Not to sound like I wasn't listening at all, and completely disregarded everything you wrote about not wanting to turn your hobby into a career, I was enthralled with the pure... magic(?) of the photographs that you posted, and could totally see those on like the pictures you get from picture frames. I found them completely emotional in a way that one could relate to and reminisce in the good times they've had with first loves, friends, and simply gorgeous places that you may have found a connection with.

Five stars out of five!!!"

-Snot-Licker.

She posted this on my live journal. (anonymously) and I just felt so good! I'm so very glad to know that I'm not going crazy and that I'm not rambling on about how much each photo means to me. Snot-licker is my rock. She's my hope. That's what friends should be. This photo doesn't even begin to dive into who she really is, but it does reflect her beauty. I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. I will cherish this photo for several reasons and most of them I'd like to keep to myself. =]

"Hey look! Take a photo of me! I'm [she who shall remain nameless]!"

The Outline for the Day.

Sometimes you set out to simply photograph. Sometimes you don't always catch what it is you were looking for. I love those kind of days.

Today, I captured more than I ever thought I would. Though I didn't get to take photos of certain scenes I had hoped to. To the right is my little sister. She looks happy because she is happy. She looks playful because she is. This is the kind of shot I'm talking about. I had no intention of taking portraits at all today. Posed to Spontaneous, it didn't matter, but it most certainly happened. It is a wonderful thing to see. =]

I'm not going to school for photography and I had hoped too, but perhaps I won't. I like the idea of learning on my own and I don't think I should have a paper to proove I know how to use a camera. It would seem like work that way, don't you think? This is a love of mine and I simply cannot imagine wanting to do it as a chore or for a living. This is a hobby. I have had some family members want me to sell some prints. She claims she will buy them. That is a wonderful thing to hear, but I'm thinking that perhaps she would be the only one at the moment. Having no one else say anything similar.

Which leads me on to my next point. Simply because this is a hobby I take photos of things that matter to me in life, of things that have a message, of something that holds deep memories, or of things I want to keep a small piece of. I doubt that everyone can see the same photo exactly as I do, which is the beauty in all art, but very few people can understand what it is I'm trying to photograph to begin with. I had a friend tell me once that, "The shot is too flat. It needs a story." Of course it does and it did, but he could not see it. Even after telling the history behind the photo he still could not grasp what it was that made me love the photo when he did not.

When looking at a photo, yes there would be that "certain something" That catches your eye, but is that really what makes you view it? I look at the photos that trigger an emotion, a memory, or a thought. They don't have to feature super models or have that fantastic equipment. That is not always how that works.

I capture life.

I Added a quote at the bottom of my blog. When he speaks, its like poetry. He speaks only truth when it comes to this hobby of ours and it makes me smile. He always makes me smile.

Time gives favors to no man.

Time went far too quickly today. (the 12th.) I'm almost sorry to tell you that I didn't take many photos today. I did get a few and they are nice, but I was far too content with my company and the fact that his hand was in mine.

There was such beauty everywhere! To think we never intended on being there in the first place. He's teaching me more than photography and its wonderful. He was right behind me for this photo crouched down taking a shot of what was behind me. I even got to lean on him a bit to stop my shaking. He noticed before I did and actually held me to him to brace me a bit. Its amazing I got the shots that I did. =]

Finding myself isn't all that difficult. These photos mean a lot to me. I couldn't begin to tell you just how much. I love discoveries, I love adventure, and I love the possibility of love. I cannot wait for anything to happen, because I simply cannot believe what has happened so far. It gives me absolute hope and absolute confidence and inspiration.

It started out that we needed something to do. Not that sitting in the mall parking lot wasn't already something great. (lol) So Since we had discussed Bear Town Rocks we thought we'd go ahead and go. Well, his GPS was giving him correct directions. I was not. We ended up going the exact opposite direction we were meant to. So, It plotted a new course for us to turn around. We exited I-80 and saw a few signs for Parker Dam. He says, "Why don't we go there? Let go there." Of course we didn't make it that far, he made a turn at S.B Elliot State Park. We walked around a little and I discovered that he really does have a way with animals. (lol) Our first direction of choice once leaving the car was a good one because we managed to catch 3-4 White Tailed Deer leaping out of view. On our way back out had stoped me and quietly said to look where he was. 3 more White Tailed Deer. They were simply beautiful.

During out wanderings we found a few interesting things stopping occasionally for him to photograph something, because I just had my head elsewhere. He kept asking me if I was getting enough photos. I had gotten a few. And I've shared a few here with you.

DeviantART will be updated before my blog.

=] Good Night!

Http://twistedrazor.devaintart.com

Finding yourself in photography.

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